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Right around and just before the MLB all-star break, the Cincinnati Reds looked dead in the water to most that examined the National League Central division. Even then it was clear they had a good chance to come away with a wildcard spot but as far as the division, they were not going get there. That is what other people said though, not the Reds themselves. Apparently Dusty Baker has never stopped believing that his team could come away with the N.L. Central division title. Who knew he could actually be right?
On the first of August the Pittsburgh Pirates were 1.5 games up on the St. Louis Cardinals with the Reds hovering around 5 games out. Here we are on the 19th of August and the two teams at the top of the division look about the same distance apart but the Reds have gained three games on the division lead and now sit only 2.5 out going into play on Monday. What is their secret? What did they do to climb back into the race the hard way?
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Sadly I don’t think there was a magic solution for the Reds. They just played hard, stayed focused and kept believing. Sure enough as the calendar gets ready to flip to the season’s last month the Reds no longer look like they will slip by with the second wildcard spot. They are hard charging for the division lead and that is without Johnny Cueto. As good as they have played without him, getting Cueto back sometime soon would be a huge boost for the entire club and might push them over the top of the division.
David Miller is a Senior Writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @davidmillerrant, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google
